This hearing, called by Council Chair Bankston, focused on a revised public-private partnership to secure an NWSL expansion franchise in Columbus. The revised deal includes a $25 million city investment (part of a $50 million total with Franklin County) for a new training facility at McCoy Park and improvements to Scotts Miracle-Gro Field, leveraging a $310 million private investment. Financing would be supported by increasing the admissions fee at the stadium from 5% to 7%, with the additional revenue dedicated to debt service. Over 30 years, the project is projected to generate $52 million in net fiscal impact to the city and create over 200 jobs. Council heard public testimony from 24 speakers, with 18 in support and 6 expressing concerns or opposition.
Thank you all for joining us. I will call this uh hearing to order. Um today's hearing on the proposed investment related to the expansion of the National Women's Soccer League. Uh Columbus is currently in the running uh to receive the latest team expansion of the National Women's Soccer League, which will require a joint public-private investment in both Scott's Miracle Grow Field and a new training facility. And although we're in the running on bullish, I think that we are at the top. And that's why we are here today. Over the last two or so weeks, uh, I have led deliberations between council, the administration, and the ownership group uh to discuss options of how to finance a deal that will give Columbus the best shot at receiving this team, and would also address concerns that I've heard from my colleagues and earn their support. On Friday, the council president and I announced a deal that we believe addresses many of the questions and concerns that were raised by our council colleagues after the first proposal was announced. The goal of this hearing is to have a conversation about the mechanics of that deal, the economic viability and benefits of this investment for the city, and the philosophies around investments such as these. So let me be clear. But I am here to say that I am supportive of this conversation and I'm supportive of this deal because I believe we have worked out a revised deal that is better than the first one presented to us. We've spoken at length why Columbus is the right fit for an NWS team the NWLS team. We need to do a better job of telling Columbus why an NWSL team is right for our city. We are past the pom and circumstance of pitching ourselves to the NWSL. The point of this hearing is to pitch it to the public and to hear their feedback. I believe in the framework we're uh going to hear about today. We I believe that it moves our city forward. I believe that it's going to land us this NWSL team, which will be transformative for our city. And my message is clear to residents. If you don't care about soccer and won't go to the games, then no worries. You won't be paying for this. And once it is paid off, you will benefit from it, though, because the city will be able to spend the ongoing new revenue in perpetuity on things like homelessness, housing, and youth programming. And I also believe you will benefit because of the spillover economic development impacts of having Cruise Stadium programmed all year round and the arena district alive and vibrant with activity, and if Columbus becoming this global soccer capital that we are becoming. And if this plan doesn't perform the way we hoped, then the plan does include multiple ways that we as a city can recoup the investment and make sure we're not left holding the bag. Not everyone will like this, and I get it, but I'm a believer in bringing people together and having tough and honest conversations and making a bad deal better, not just walking away from the table. So we have a lot of women in in council chambers today, so let me also say this. This is a big day for the women of Columbus, but also for the men who have wives and daughters and sisters who will feel supported. What we know is that when young girls see success on the field by other women, that success can translate in the classroom, in their communities, but even more so for their future. Now I'll just end with this, uh, which is gratitude for those who spent a lot of time and I hope that everybody uh felt that we approached these conversations with sincerity of trying to get the deal. One of the things that um I see my friend here, Cassie Sistrunk, uh, when I first talked to her about the deal a month ago, she made this point to me, and I believed it. She said, This might be Columbus's last big shot at getting an expansion team. You don't want to let that go away. And after I heard that from Cat from his cyst trunk, um, I had two philosophies to make a deal better and get this team here. And I think that that's uh what we were able to do uh with this deal. So thank you again, uh, Chair Bankston for your leadership and uh thank you for getting us here. Thank you, Council President. Any other opening remarks from my colleagues? Oh, Castle Mr Marie. Thank you very much, Chair Bankston, uh to my colleagues and all of you here today. Um, you know, I'm excited at the prospect of bringing an uh in an NWSL team to Columbus. Columbus could be a very strong home for women's professional soccer, and I understand why so many people are excited about what this can mean for young people, for families, and the future of sports in Columbus. But support does not mean we stop asking questions. And if the city is going to be involved, then we have a responsibility to make sure this is fair and balanced and responsible for the residents and taxpayers of Columbus. That means being clear about the public return, serious about community benefits, and honest about how this investment would actually work. So I'm excited at the work that's been done. I do believe that the updated proposal moves us in a better direction. But today is here for listening, and I'm here to learn from the presentations here from the community and make sure that Columbus moves forward. We do it in a way that people can trust and communities can truly feel. Thank you, Chair. Send it back to you.